Elms College vs. Fordham

Should I go to College of Our Lady of the Elms or Fordham University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Elms College or Fordham is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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College of Our Lady of the Elms vs. Fordham University comparison
College of Our Lady of the Elms Fordham University College 3 College 4
College of Our Lady of the Elms Fordham University
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Overview

Elms College Fordham
Location Chicopee, MA Bronx, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 1,332 16,153
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #374 #126
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website elms.edu fordham.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Elms College Fordham
Tuition (In State) $40,095 $60,335
Tuition (Out of State) $40,095 $60,335
Room & Board $15,150 $23,075
Avg Net Price $22,311 $45,368
Avg Grant Aid $31,015 $33,278
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Elms College Fordham
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,442 43,663
Admitted 1,264 24,573
Acceptance Rate 87.7% 56.3%
Enrolled % 15.5% 9.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.42 3.67
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 30/33
SAT Range 1150/1320 1330/1490
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Elms College Fordham
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (49%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • History (5%)
  • General Studies (4%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Communication (13%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • English and Literature (6%)

Outcomes

Elms College Fordham
Graduation Rate 58% 78%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,300 $64,200
Making Student Loan Payments 61% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $268

Diversity

Elms College Fordham
% Men 4% 13%
% Women 18% 23%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 56% 59%
% Black 7% 4%
% Hispanic 10% 14%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 7%
% Unknown Race 24% 2%

Students

Elms College Fordham
% In-State 71% 37%
% Out-of-State 26% 55%

Campus

Elms College Fordham
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fordham University is larger than than Elms College based on total student enrollment (16,153 students vs. 1,332 students)

Elms College vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Fordham?

  • Fordham University is 50.5% more expensive to attend than Elms College for in-state tuition ($60,335.00 vs. $40,095.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 50.5% higher at Fordham than College of Our Lady of the Elms ($60,335.00 vs. $40,095.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Fordham ($22,311 vs. $45,368)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 52.3% lower than costs at Fordham University ($15,150 vs. $23,075)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than Fordham University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fordham University students is 7.3% larger than aid received College of Our Lady of the Elms ($33,278 vs. $31,015)

Elms College vs. Fordham Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms College or Fordham? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fordham or Elms College .

  • The average SAT score at Fordham University (1273) is 297 points higher than at Elms College (976)
  • Incoming Fordham students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Elms College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Fordham students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Elms College (3.42)
  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than Fordham (56.3%)

Elms College vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Elms College or Fordham? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Fordham and Elms College.

  • The graduation rate at Fordham is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms (78% vs. 58%)
  • Graduates from Fordham University earn on average $17,900 more per year than Elms College graduates after ten years. ($64,200 vs. $46,300)
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Fordham graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Elms College graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Fordham graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
  • More Fordham graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 61%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/